Just days after Mayor Paul Young claimed Memphis crime was on the decline, a man was arrested for stalking and attempting to kidnap him—armed with rope, duct tape, and a TASER.
Key Facts:
- Trenton Abston, 25, was arrested for stalking and attempting to kidnap Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
- Police say he scaled the wall to the mayor’s neighborhood and approached his home.
- Abston had a TASER, gloves, rope, and duct tape in his vehicle.
- The arrest came one day after Young pushed back on public criticism of Memphis crime by Stephen A. Smith.
- Abston is being held without bond; it’s unclear if he has legal representation.
The Rest of The Story:
Memphis police arrested Trenton Abston on Wednesday, charging him with attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespass after he allegedly targeted Mayor Paul Young.
According to the Memphis Police Department, security camera footage showed Abston scaling a neighborhood wall and approaching the mayor’s home.
Inside his car, officers reportedly found a TASER, gloves, rope, and duct tape—tools commonly associated with restraint.
Police praised their fast response and stressed that safety for all Memphis residents, including elected officials, remains a top priority.
“We take any potential threat seriously,” MPD stated in a public post.
Abston was arrested just one day after Mayor Young clapped back on social media against ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.
Smith had claimed that NBA players were avoiding Memphis due to its crime problem, sparking defensive responses from both Grizzlies star Ja Morant and the mayor.
Young responded, “Crime is down significantly in 2024 and 2025,” and added, “Memphis is rising and we’ve got the numbers and the heart to prove it.”
My thoughts on @stephenasmith’s statement about Memphis: pic.twitter.com/yCDQEpR5q4
— Paul Young (@mayorpaulyoung) June 18, 2025
Commentary:
Memphis leaders keep insisting crime is trending downward, but the reality on the ground tells a different story.
A man attempting to kidnap the sitting mayor—armed and lurking just outside his house—is hardly a sign of public safety.
Mayor Young’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
Within 24 hours of declaring Memphis safer, a would-be attacker was scaling walls in his own neighborhood.
If that’s the new definition of “safer,” it won’t comfort the public, or NBA players worried about walking the streets.
The mayor’s social media response came off more like a PR maneuver than a serious engagement with Memphis’s persistent problems.
Crime might be “down” in percentage terms, but the city still ranks among the most dangerous in the nation.
“Down” doesn’t mean “safe,” especially when incidents like this still occur in broad daylight.
The public also hasn’t forgotten Memphis’s recent hostility toward law enforcement.
Defunding rhetoric, police resignations, and anti-police sentiment have led to a recruitment crisis.
Standards for hiring new officers are being lowered just to keep boots on the ground.
When cities like Memphis cut support for law enforcement, they don’t end up safer—they just end up short-staffed and less secure.
The result? Fewer patrols, delayed responses, and more emboldened criminals, as this case may prove.
A city leader can’t tweet away fear or data with emojis and civic pride slogans.
Real progress means real safety.
Until Memphis tackles the deeper issues—from police shortages to violent offenders—any claims about declining crime will ring hollow.
The Bottom Line:
Mayor Paul Young’s claim that Memphis is becoming safer was quickly overshadowed by a disturbing attempted kidnapping at his own home.
The timing couldn’t be worse for city leadership trying to downplay ongoing safety concerns.
Until crime is not only statistically down but actually felt to be under control by residents and public figures alike, Memphis’s reputation—and reality—will remain challenged.
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